Prim. Proper. Angelic. Perfect. Sakura's mother spent years shaping her into the 'perfect' pop princess.
Rugged. Sexy. Mischievous. Delinquent. Itachi and his band are on rise with their unorthodox appearance and music.
Due to a mutually beneficial situation, they meet and are forced to deal with whatever they need to in order to keep themselves relevant in the eyes of the public. Easier said than done, right?
I'll show you what a girl is, cause all of me is perfect
Who cares about the dress size, it's all about what's inside
I'll stand up now, and won't back down
We're breaking through the surface, to show you what a girl is
We're breaking through the surface, to show you what a girl is
"And that ladies and gentlemen was the latest hit single from Konoha's very own pop princess Sakura! 'What a Girl is' has been nominated for—"
Pale manicured fingers cut off the radio with an irritated sigh as viridian eyes scanned countless magazine articles and gossip blogs about the same person the radio DJ had just been going on about: Sakura Haruno. This young woman of nineteen was the number one idol in all of Konoha, it's very own pop princess. The media just loved talking about her constantly, portraying her as a perfect sweetheart, an angel, a beauty with exotic pink hair, innocently adorable. She was graceful, polite, and all around pleasant. It seemed that in the eyes of the media she could do no wrong, she was a constant bright spot in an otherwise dismal world. They didn't care about the actual girl, just the doll she was forced to be in the eyes of the public.
"Sakura dear! Sakura! Did you hear the wonderful news?" Said pinkette lifted her eyes off the laptop screen to watch her mother enter the room in a flourish of loose fabrics and glittering jewels. Her mother, Mebuki Haruno was an A list actress back in the days off her youth. With her blonde hair, fair skin, and slim figure she was an absolute knock out and though the unescapable signs of aging started becoming more evident, she was still fairly beautiful and would still be in fairly high demand if it not for the fact that she retired to put more effort into her daughter's career.
"Depends on what news you are talking about." The girl said with a sigh as she closed the laptop and gave her mother her full attention. "Did I hear that for the fifth week in a row 'What a Girl is' is at number one? Yes. Did I hear that my music has been nominated for eight awards? Yes. Did I hear that I have been nominated for the Will of Fire for my," she made sure to put air quotes around the next set of words. "'contribution to Konoha's community', then yes I heard the news." It was hard not to hear even if she tried, her mother worked hard to make sure her name was always the big topic, all good things of course. Mebuki would not allow a single negative thing be said about her only child.
Mebuki rolled her eyes and moved to stand at her daughter's side. "Oh stop being so melodramatic Sakura! You earned that nomination by volunteering your free time at the hospital. Besides, it is amazing publicity." Her fingers started playing with the long strands that resembled cotton candy with motherly affection. She had always been a little jealous of her daughter's exotic looks, but knew that the color suited Sakura's porcelain complexion far better than her own.
"That's the thing mother! I didn't do it for the publicity! I did it because I wanted to!" She screeched as she made her way over to the glass door that looked out at the pool. She needed the space between her and her mother. "Besides, there are plenty of others who are doing more than I am able to, yet they have not been nominated!"
"It is because you are better than those people sweetie!" Mebuki's face had a bright smile on her face as if she didn't just say something so wrong and totally rude.
"Would you stop that?! I am not better than anyone! Lest of all better than those that make sure to put so much time in effort into helping those who need it! Have you noticed that Hinata wasn't nominated? Sweet little Hinata who not only puts in just as many hours as I do at the pediatric ward, but also volunteers at the Inuzuka animal shelter AND Nara libraries. She deserves the award much more than I do." Sakura could understand that every mother was proud of her children and thought them better than others, but sometimes she felt her own mother took it too far.
"But sweetie-"
"No mom. Do not but sweetie me." Mebuki's face fell after her daughter's lashing and tears, though fake, started to gather in her eyes that matched Sakura's in color. With a sigh the teen gave her mom a half smile and apologized, she hated how easily her mother could guilt her sometimes. "I'm sorry, mom. What did you come in here to tell me?"
The older woman's face instantly brightened up. "I just heard from Kakashi! He managed to move your interview with Kurenai to today! There was conflicts in scheduling so she didn't have a guest today! Isn't that great?"
Sakura chuckled at her mother's enthusiasm. "I don't know how I would of heard that before you did mother, but yes, that is great. Should I go get dressed soon?"
"Yes dear, it would be best to do so now, we will be leaving within the hour." Mebuki grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her off to her room with as much excitement as a child visiting their favorite theme park. "I already have an outfit in mind! You are going to look so adorable!
Not even two hours later she was sitting on an overstuffed coach in front of multiple cameras and a large audience. Interviews didn't tend to make her nervous anymore and this time was no different. Everything came naturally to her after years of drills: ankles crossed daintily, hands folded neatly in her lap, back straight, face relaxed and soft, speaking in muted bell like tones, cutely hide her mouth behind her hand with every giggle or laugh. She never spoke more than what was necessary, and always dogged around questions that were too personal, just as her mother taught her to do.
Each action came as easy to her as breathing, but they never fail to tire her out. So, once the cameras were off and she politely said her goodbyes to the host, she quickly retreated to her dressing room. As soon as the door was shut she flopped onto the couch, kicking off the painful heels her mother forced her into as she did. The elaborate up do her stylist did was taken out, her fingers running though to loosen up the hairspray, before redone in a loose ponytail. Pleased with herself, her eyes began to drift closed in relaxation now that she was alone and safe.
Mebuki came into the room several minutes later, pulling Sakura back from the brink of unconsciousness, her eyes filled to the brim with excitement. "You did wonderful dear as always, but that's no real surprise. And of course they just adored you! Kurenai and the producers all agreed that they would love to have you back again, and maybe next time you can perform live for everyone."
"Of course they love me mom, they always love me. These media shows seem to think I can do no wrong and are afraid to say anything against me because you are my mother." She muttered without an ounce of narcissism, just tired acceptance.
The obvious despondent tone went over the older woman's head as he grinned happily. "Well that's because there is nothing they can criticize dear. You have no faults!"
The younger woman sighed and listened as her mother continuously blab on and on about just how lovely and perfect she was. If only her mom realized that she wasn't as perfect as she seemed to believe, that she only seemed that way because that's the way she wanted Sakura to be portrayed to the public. If only she noticed the signs that the young girl wasn't happy with her image or how prim and proper she was told she NEEDED to be.
"Mother," Sakura managed to cut in on her mother mid-rant. If she didn't stop her now, she could go one for at least another twenty minutes and she just could not listen to it again. She loved her to death, but she swore, her mother can make her want to pull her hair out sometimes. "How much longer do you think we will need to hide out till the crowd is gone? I have plans with Ino tonight and she is going to throw a huge hissy fit if I am late again."
"Oh? I did not know you had plans today. I had a nice dinner planned out." The elder woman said with a dejected sigh. "Can you not reschedule?" She said hopeful.
"No I can't mom. Tonight is supposed to make up for the last time you asked me reschedule, which was to make up for the time before that. I cannot keep putting Ino off to follow along with your whims, it is rude and un-ladylike." Sakura knew she had won her case as soon as she brought up the disregard for manners. As much as it seemed her mother disliked Ino, because she deemed the girl too mouthy and brash, she disliked forgoing proper etiquette
"Oh you are right, silly me. I will just have to invite Kakashi over for dinner, heavens knows he does not take care of himself properly. He should really find himself a nice woman, well as long as it does not interfere with his work of course. I would be completely lost without him." Her mood did a complete turn around and the mere thought of work. She seemed to enjoy helping manage Sakura's career almost as much as she did acting. "We can discuss what the next step will be to further your career and increase the buzz before the awards show next month." Sakura could tell she was not happy about being basically outsmarted by her daughter, but at least her mother can do something productive with it instead of just showering her only child in unnecessary praise. "I am sure we will be able to leave within the half hour, an hour at the very latest. The studio is usually pretty good at clearing the area quickly."
With a sigh of relief, she gave her mother a soft smile. Although she loved the woman to death, she needed to get away. It has been nearly two months since the last time she was able to leave the house without her mother at her side or without an appointment she needed to attend to. If she didn't get away soon, she was sure she was going to end up snapping at her mother and cause a great deal of problems that she would prefer to just avoid. Soon she will be at her best friend's house eating all the junk food she was forbidden from eating at home, after the boxing lesson her mother was unaware she was taking. Soon she was going to be free, even if it was only for a mere twelve hours or so.
'Just an hour more.'
Hello everyone! Not sure how many people actually read these little author notes at the bottom, but I wanted to let you know about a few things.
So this is not my debut to Fan-Fiction. I actually used to have an account long ago, but to be honest I am quite embarrassed about my work on it.
Now even though I feel like my work is much better now than it was then, I would still very much enjoy any suggestions or criticisms anyone may have. I just ask that if you do criticize my work, please be respectful about it and offer genuine suggestions to make my writing better. Thank you.
I'm planning for this to be a rather long fanfiction. Though I do not have it written out just yet, I do have everything planned out in a plot tree. Hopefully this means that as long as my personal life does not interfere, I should have new chapters up at least once a week, if not more.
Thank you to those who have read this. I appreciate it.
